O’Connor notches double with latest acquisition

Cian O’Connor is already giving indication of another successful partnership, notching up a double with his latest acquisition Walk Tall II on week seven of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida.

The Meath-based rider and Offaly’s Darragh Kenny had scored wins early in the week and the pair were among only three to make the jump-off in Saturday’s $25,000 Suncast 1.50m class. Young US rider Blythe Marano kicked off with eight faults on LLC’s Urban. Kenny then put it up to O’Connor when clear on LLC’s Twister, but the Olympic bronze medallist finished almost two seconds the better to take the top prize.

Walk Tall II is an 11-year-old gelding by Kannan out of a Clover Hill mare and won last year’s Queen’s Cup in Hickstead with Keith Doyle. He was purchased by O’Connor before Christmas and, when asked if he considered the gelding a replacement for his Olympic mount Blue Loyd, the Meath-based rider drew comparison with 12 months ago.

“Walk Tall is very talented and, as shown last year with Blue Loyd, this is an ideal training ground and I would hope we can develop our partnership and be ready for the big classes in the summer.

“He has been ridden by the same rider since he was four, so I am a different rider and it takes time to adjust... In our second week jumping he won a 1.40m and a 1.50m today, so I can’t really ask for much better than that. If I can train him to listen to me and understand me and really get all of the gears, I think I can jump any course.”

O’Connor is hoping to get the nod from Irish manager Robert Splaine for next Friday’s US nations cup and will ride Splendor if favoured.

“There is a strong Irish contingent here with very good American owners and, on that basis, it would be nice to have a good outing. Of course, it would also be good to get Robert’s new term as manager off to a good start.”

In the UAE, Kilkenny’s Marion Hughes piloted Heritage HHS Fortuna to victory in a jump-off class, while in Oliva, Spain, Wexford’s Bertram Allen guided Wild Thing L to runner-up spot in a speed contest and also finished third with Molly Malone V in a two-phase.

At Cavan Equestrian Centre, Donegal-based Kelda Morgan won her first National Grand Prix when taking the third leg of the HSI/Blue Grass Spring Tour on Willie Lapsley’s gelding George. League leader Daniel Coyle had two in the jump-off, but had to settle for sixth on Uptown Girl, with John Floody narrowing the gap at the top of the league when second on King’s Best.